Judge Phil Ginn Encourages Christians to Take Example from Cross and Remain Steadfast in the Truth
November 22, 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Recently, the infamous Loudoun County School Board has agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting it from retaliating against elementary school teacher Tanner Cross, ensuring he retains his job as well as agreeing to pay $20,000 toward Cross’ attorney fees.
Cross made headlines around the nation when he refused to adhere to the Loudoun County School Board mandate to refer to students by their “preferred pronouns.” After being fired for standing for biblical beliefs in the face of the leftist agenda, Cross famously sued the school board, claiming, “I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them, regardless of the consequences. I’m a teacher, but I serve God first, and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl, and vice versa, because it’s against my religion. It’s lying to a child. It’s abuse to a child. And it’s sinning against our God.”
Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, ses.edu), commented on this victory for Cross and the entirety of conservative Christians.
“When something occurs which is out of the ordinary, folks usually pay attention to the anomaly,” Ginn stated. “Out in the country, we used to say that such an event is a ‘once in a blue moon’ kind of thing. I’m not completely sure what that phrase actually means; however, I am sure that what I’ve seen in Tanner Cross’s courageous stand against the tyranny of the Loudoun County, Virginia School Board is one of those events that ought to stand out in our minds. Tanner Cross is the teacher who boldly stood up to the school board’s overreaching policy of requiring the use of preferred pronouns for ‘transgendered and gender expansive’ students because it violates his Christian beliefs. It initially cost him his job, but through the court system his job has been restored.”
Ginn continued, “What the Loudoun County schoolboard was not able to take from him is much more important. Tanner kept the faith, and in doing so, he maintained his integrity. If you are not familiar with Tanner, I urge you to learn about his story. We need more men and women like Tanner who are willing to stand against the cultural attacks on religious freedom and attacks particularly against true Christianity. Those of us at SES applaud Tanner for being Steadfast in the Truth. That’s what SES has been about for 30 years, and it is what we will continue to do for as long as the Lord allows.”
SES recently held the important live-streamed event, “Awaken.” The event examined issues related to systemic racism in America, police violence, and people of color; the nature of true social justice; and how individuals can escape today’s “wokism.” Featured speakers included SES President Judge Phil Ginn, former police officer Eric Muldrow, and Monique Duson of the Center for Biblical Unity.
Judge Phil Ginn was appointed president of SES in April 2021 after a distinguished career as both a lawyer and a judge. He holds a B.A. from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Prior to his appointment as SES president, Judge Ginn served as SES Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The mission of SES is to train men and women, based on the inerrant and infallible written Word of God, for the evangelization of the world and defense of the historic Christian faith. SES offers the 15-hour Certificate in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).SES believes that one must minister to the present generation according to its needs—and to do so with truth and power. Students need training in the ethical, political and economic implications of the unchanging Faith “once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The PPE can also be used as a concentration within most master’s degrees (excluding Master of Arts in Religion).The combination of PPE training and classical seminary education can be a potent one in combating the new heresies and false doctrines rooted in a secularist, progressivist worldview.
For more information on SES, visit its website at www.ses.edu or its Facebook page, follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics, or call (704) 847-5600.
###To interview a spokesperson for Southern Evangelical Seminary, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
